Electronic still camera which allows a second operation to be performed regardless of the state of a first operation

Abstract

An electronic still camera includes a photographic optical system having a variable focal length, an image sensor for converting an optical image formed by the photographic optical system into an electrical image signal, a recording circuit for recording on a rotary recording medium the electrical image signal produced by the image sensor, a focal-length adjusting device for adjusting the focal length of the photographic optical system, and a control circuit arranged to inhibit either one of a rotation of the rotary recording medium and a focal-length adjustment operation of the focal-length adjusting device when the other is being performed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) image pickup means for forming an electrical image signal according to an optical image;   (b) an optical system for controlling optical condition of the image on said image pickup means;   (c) recording means for recording said electrical image signal;   (d) a first trigger means for starting a recording operation of said recording means;   (e) a second trigger means for starting a control operation of said optical system independently of said first trigger means; and   (f) inhibit means for inhibiting the control operation of said optical system during the operation of said recording means even when said second trigger means is actuated.   
     
     
       2. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said recording means includes a magnetic recording medium. 
     
     
       3. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said optical system and said recording means are driven by a common power source. 
     
     
       4. An image pickup apparatus, comprising: (a) image pickup means for forming an electrical image signal according to an optical image;   (b) an optical system for controlling optical condition of the image on said image pickup means;   (c) a first trigger means for starting an image pickup operation of said image pickup means;   (d) a second trigger means for starting a control operation of said optical system independently of said first trigger means; and   (e) inhibit means for inhibiting the control operation of said optical system during the image pickup operation of said image pickup means even when said second trigger means is actuated.   
     
     
       5. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising recording means for recording said electrical image signal. 
     
     
       6. An image pickup apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said optical system and said image pickup means are driven by a common power source. 
     
     
       7. An image pickup apparatus comprising: (a) image pickup means for photoconverting an optical image into an electrical signal;   (b) optical means for changing said optical image on said image pickup means;   (c) storing means for storing said electrical signal read out from said image pickup means;   (d) storing trigger means for triggering a storing operation with said storing means;   (e) trigger means for triggering a changing operation with said optical means independently of said storing trigger means; and   (f) control means for inhibiting said trigger means during said storing operation and for accepting said trigger means after said storing operation finishes.   
     
     
       8. The image pickup apparatus of claim 1 wherein said optical system comprises zooming means. 
     
     
       9. The image pickup apparatus of claim 4 wherein said optical system comprises zooming means. 
     
     
       10. The image pickup apparatus of claim 7 wherein said optical means comprises zooming means.